Grand New England

Tour begins: 5:30 PM, The Langham, Boston. A transfer is included from Logan International Airport to The Langham, a historic, luxury central Boston hotel steps away Fanuil Hall Marketplace and the famous North End neighborhood. Join us at the hotel this evening for a welcome reception and dinner; the dazzling reds, golds and oranges that accent Boston's cityscape are a colorful prelude to your fall foliage tour. Stay Two Nights: The Langham, Boston (D)

History is alive and around every corner of the exciting city of Boston on an orientation tour this morning that includes Boston Common, Beacon Hill with its elegant townhouses and narrow cobblestone streets and the ethnic flavors of the North End. Walk back in time in the footsteps of literary giants, artists, and visionaries who inspired and shaped America in its infancy.

Later, explore on your own this city teeming with historic treasures and hip modern pleasures, where the venerable past is always present. (B)

Begin today's travels in the Berkshires, long a retreat for artists and writers, at The Mount – the hilltop Georgian mansion of Edith Wharton. The celebrated author of The House of Mirth and The Age of Innocence called it her "first real home." Wharton was also a consummate entertainer – you'll feel like one of her guests at a private lunch overlooking her bucolic grounds.

Continue on to Williamstown for a docent-led tour of the internationally renowned Clark Art Institute ("The Clark"), one of the few institutions in the US combining a public art museum with research and academic programs. Arrive late afternoon at your historic resort in Manchester, Vermont. Note: On Mondays and holidays when The Clark is closed, enjoy an alternate visit to the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge – dedicated to the beloved illustrator who spent the last 25 years of his life in this small Berkshire town, and displaying many of his original works and his studio. Stay Two Nights: The Equinox Golf Resort and Spa (B/L/D)

The classic New England town of Manchester, Vermont is tucked between the Green Mountains and the Taconic Range, and is home to Equinox Mountain, the Taconics' tallest peak. This morning, it's off to Hildene, the Georgian Revival mansion of President Abraham Lincoln's son Robert who served as US Secretary of War and minister to Great Britain, and his wife Mary Harlan Lincoln. The 1905 Georgian Revival-style mansion – which today is on the National Register of Historic Places and is furnished largely with Lincoln family furniture and artifacts – remained in the Lincoln family until 1975, and has since been restored and maintained by a non-profit group. Dinner is included this evening. (B/L/D)

Depart Manchester this morning for Burlington; Vermont's most populous city and the home of famous ice cream brand, Ben & Jerry's. You'll have some free time late this morning to explore the city as you wish, there is just so much to do! Some possibilities include; a visit to Church Street Marketplace, lined from start to finish with restaurants and shops, or, visit one of the over 70 breweries found in the city, a beer enthusiast's dream! This afternoon, you're off for a scenic cruise along Lake Champlain, before settling in for dinner and a good night's rest at your hotel. Stay: Hilton Burlington (B/L/D)

Continue exploring Vermont's classic New England landscapes as you make your way to Shelburne for a visit to the Shelburne Museum of Art and Americana. Spread over 45 acres, this unique museum holds a vast collection of prints, paintings, folk art and quilts reflecting 19th-century American life, in historic buildings – including barns, a meeting house, a jail, a lighthouse, and a railroad station – in a village-like setting around the Ticonderoga, a 220-ft. steamboat that once ferried passengers and livestock on Lake Champlain. Today's final destination is Stowe, an iconic Vermont ski resort town tucked away in the Green Mountains, for an overnight at a resort in the foothills of Mount Mansfield.

This afternoon is yours to explore Stowe as you wish. Dinner is at the hotel this evening. Stay: Stoweflake Resort (B/L/D)

Head out from the Green Mountains of Vermont via the state capital, Montpelier, and the elegant gold-domed State House. Just outside the city, Morse Farm Maple Sugarworks offers you a taste of pure maple syrup and an education in how it's made, from the tapping of trees to the distillation of sap and the subtle shades and grades that result from an art they've perfected over eight generations in the family business.

Continue on out of Vermont and into the White Mountains of New Hampshire, arriving in Bretton Woods for a two-night stay at the historic Omni Mount Washington Resort, one of New England's last grand resort hotels. Since its opening in 1902, this palatial hotel has been a magnet for presidents, robber barons and celebrities; Babe Ruth and Thomas Edison loved to golf here. In 1944, the World Bank was established here in the Gold Room; the stunning mountain landscapes outside glow with the same color. Stay Two Nights: Omni Mount Washington Resort (B/L/D)

The harshest winter weather on the planet can be found at the summit of Mount Washington, where a wind speed of 231 mph was once recorded in 1932, and the stone houses are anchored to the ground with chains. But at this time of year, you'll experience chilly temperatures and magnificent views, as well as hear from the scientists at the meteorological observatory who will brief you on their work in this unique environment. It's a day for indulging in the colorful quintessence of a fall foliage tour as you wind down New England back roads to return to your luxury resort at Bretton Woods, where you'll enjoy a presentation on the local ecology and wildlife. Dine as you please this evening. (B/L/D)

Your journey continues this morning as you make your way to the final leg of your New England adventure – Maine, but don't worry, there is still so much left to see and do.

This afternoon, visit the Maine Maritime Museum for a closer look into Maine's seafaring history with its vast collection of various objects and rare documents related to the state's maritime heritage and its direct impact, from ancient times to modern day.

Tonight, you're off to dinner at a Maine staple – Cook's Lobster & Ale House. Established in 1955, Cook's started as a small, one room take-out stand, and has since grown into a national icon including being featured as a property in the Maine edition of Monopoly! Enjoy an classic Maine lobster dinner before returning to your hotel. Tomorrow, you'll continue on to Portland. Stay: Brunswick Hotel & Tavern (B/D)

Arrive this morning in Portland, Maine where a local lobsterman takes you out into the harbor aboard his working boat for an authentic, hands-on experience in the lobstering trade. Back on land, enjoy time on your own in Portland, rich with restored 19th-century architecture and cobblestone streets, and settle in at your hotel. Stay Two Nights: Westin Portland Harborview (B/D)

Journey southward this morning from Portland along the beautiful, rugged Maine coast to coastal Kennebunkport, best known for its long, sandy beaches, abundance of lighthouses and fresh seafood delights. Return early this afternoon back to Portland for an afternoon at leisure, exploring this city however you wish.

Tonight, join us for a farewell reception and dinner back at your hotel as your New England adventure comes to a close. (B/D)

After breakfast, travel from Westin Portland Harborview to Boston. Tour ends: 12:00 PM at Logan International Airport, Boston. Airport transfers are included. Flights shouldn't be booked before 2:00 PM; allow a minimum of 2 hours for check-in. Ask at booking about extending your stay with additional hotel nights (rooms may not be ready until 3:00 PM). (B)